The Mets have yet to play a game under their new regime, but Fred Wilpon is more optimistic about his team’s future than he’s been in a while — especially after admitting he was “very upset” after last season.

And the Mets owner said he realizes that a lack of additional stars may make it hard for some people to believe that they are actually headed in the right direction.

“I think it is difficult for the average fan, because when you make a splash they tend to feel hope,” Wilpon said. “But the splash might not be the reason you’re getting better.”

And like his son Jeff did last week, the elder Wilpon stood up to critics who said his team wasn’t spending enough money.

“When you look through all of it, our payroll is approaching $150 million, it’s not at $48 million,” said Wilpon, who may have overestimated the payroll by about $10 million. “It’s a high payroll. It’s true, some people have not produced in the past and we’re still carrying it and maybe we won’t carry it.”

Still, general manager Sandy Alderson and manager Terry Collins reiterated last night they expected Oliver Perez and Luis Castillo to be in Port St. Lucie when camp opens in mid February. And while Alderson was hired to fix the Mets in the long term, Wilpon said he isn’t writing off this season.

“Every time I do expectations, you guys kill me,” Wilpon said to the press. “I think we have a good team. And I think we have a much better team than you all and the public give us credit for. It remains to be seen, though.”

He also left the door open to an increase in payroll if the Mets remain in contention at the trade deadline.

“I think so, in a practical way,” Wilpon said. “We’ve always held back some so at the appropriate time we could make changes if we have to. [Alderson] may make changes even before then. It’s up to him.”

More than improving for the upcoming season, however, Wilpon said he believes Alderson has succeeded in altering the way the team is run.

“I feel there’s a change,” Wilpon said. “You have to have hope.”

Wilpon, who was at Cipriani in Midtown, where Alderson and Collins were being honored by the PAL, also wants former GM Omar Minaya to stay with the organization.

“Very much so,” Wilpon said of Minaya, who is still figuring out what he wants to do. “Looking at talent, maybe international.”

Collins said he would return to Port St. Lucie on Saturday for the duration of spring training and added that Jason Bay is “ready to go” and Castillo is working with a personal trainer in Miami to get his legs in shape. As for Perez, the manager has not talked to the lefty, but he expects him to show up to camp early and fight for a spot in the rotation, with a possibility of switching to a role in the pen.

“We’ve got to rebuild his confidence,” Collins said.

Wilpon said he doesn’t mind keeping Perez around.

“There’s no harm bringing him in and, if you don’t like what see, there you have it,” Wilpon said.